Boaz, AL – A sea of bright colored shirts was visible on Tuesday, September 13th, as United Way of Marshall County held its 25th Annual Day of Caring and Campaign Kickoff Breakfast at the Boaz Rec Center with over 450 volunteers in attendance. The breakfast theme was “Back to the 90’s” paying tribute to the decade in which the first Day of Caring event was held. Day of Caring is United Way’s largest one-day volunteer event and brings community volunteers face-to-face with local nonprofit agencies and community organizations.
A special tribute to the 25th event included guest speakers from past events. Jeannie Lyle, former United Way Director, highlighted some of the most memorable moments during her tenure. She noted one of the most memorable was the 2013 event speaker, 9-year-old Gabe Marsh, who was born with no legs and only one arm and was the beneficiary of one of United Way’s partner agencies, Foster and Adoptive Parents Association. Marsh, returned to this year’s event to provide an extraordinary message of hope and perseverance. Attorney General Steve Marshall, former United Way Campaign Chair who spoke with Marsh in 2013, could not attend the event in person, but sent a special video message that was shared at the event.
This year’s campaign co-chairs, Steve Knowles and Cade Smith, revealed the 2022/2023 campaign theme, “United Way starts with ‘U”, and announced this year’s campaign goal of $750,000. Thanks to 20 pacesetter companies, 44 percent or $327,493 has already been pledged towards meeting this year’s goal. The Co-Chairs also recognized this year’s campaign volunteers including the Campaign Cabinet and the Loaned Executives, described as “our boots on the ground” during the campaign season. This year’s Loaned Executives are Valerie Clemons with the Child Advocacy Center, David Hamlin with the American Red Cross, Justin Helton with Family Services of North Alabama, Kelly Little with AlaTrade, Caleb Liverett with Peoples Independent Bank, Estrella Martinez with Peoples Independent Bank, Lori McKoy with 2-1-1/First Call for Help, Fatima Rios with Citizens Bank & Trust, Taylor Walker with Wayne Farms and Janet Whitmore with Snead State Community College. United Way’s fundraising campaign will run through late November. All money raised stays in Marshall County and enables United Way and its partner agencies to provide assistance for local residents in need.
United Way’s Director, Carrie Thomas, announced that over 67 community service projects were adopted throughout Marshall County, with over 30 different agencies in the county participating, while 47 companies held “Casual Days” by allowing their staff to wear Day of Caring t-shirts at their workplace in support of United Way. This year’s event sponsors included Howard Bentley Buick GMC, Total Dental Care, AlaTrade, Publix, Parker Hannifin, Progress Rail, Kappler, Mitchell Grocery, Peoples Independent Bank, First Bank of Boaz, and Wayne Farms. The program was dedicated to a United Way volunteer who passed away unexpectedly the previous week, Kelly Adams, who was remembered for her loyal service to the community.
If you or your organization would like to get involved in this year’s campaign, set up a workplace campaign, or learn more about Living United, please contact Carrie Thomas via email at carrie@unitedwaymarshall.org or call the United Way office at (256) 582-4700.
Day of Caring participating companies:
4-H Clubs of Marshall County
Alabama Teachers Credit Union
AlaTrade
Albertville Chamber of Commerce
BancorpSouth
BAP Agency
Blackmon's Fuel, Inc
Boaz City School Gifted Program
Cargill
CASA of Marshall County
Child Advocacy Center
Citizens Bank & Trust
City of Albertville
City of Boaz
City of Guntersville
Clinic for Vision
Domestic Violence Crisis Services
Family Security Credit Union
First Bank of Boaz
First Southern State Bank
Gore and Stisher Wealth Management
HFI, LLC
Hope UMC
Howard Bentley Buick GMC
Lake Guntersville Chamber
Marshall County Arc
Marshall County Clerk’s Office
Marshall County Commission
Marshall County Probate Court
McLaughlin & Edmondson, LLC
Mitchell Grocery
Pankey Tech
Paragon
Parker Hannifin
Peoples Bank of Alabama
Peoples Independent Bank
Phillips Financial Advisors
Progress Rail
Propac
Publix
Randy Jones & Associates
Redstone Federal Credit Union
Shepherd's Cove Hospice
Snead State Community College
Syncro
Tenneco
The Advertiser Gleam
The Gift on Main
The Grove Grotto & Spa
The Sand Mountain Reporter
Unfazed Leadership
Wholesalecars.com
WQSB